How long is a 1957 Ford Ranchero?
The 1957 Ford Ranchero is about 206 inches long (roughly 17 feet 2 inches). This car-based pickup, Ford's inaugural Ranchero, was designed to blend passenger-car comfort with a small cargo bed, and its overall length reflects its place in late-1950s design language.
In 1957 Ford introduced the Ranchero as a response to the rising popularity of car-based pickups. The measurement used in brochures and catalogs covers bumper-to-bumper length and is useful for restoration planning, storage, and comparing to contemporary cars and pickups.
Defining the footprint: what the figure includes
When manufacturers publish "overall length," they typically measure from the extreme front of the bumper to the extreme rear bumper. For the 1957 Ranchero, dealers and catalogs commonly list a figure near 206 inches, with minor discrepancies possible due to measurement methods or bumper styling in various trim levels.
Notes for collectors and restorers
Because sources from the era sometimes differ by a few tenths of an inch due to bumper guards, optional trim, or scant measurements, you may see slight variations in catalogs. The consensus among period guides places the length at about 206 inches for most stock configurations.
Why the length matters in context
The Ranchero's length placed it between shorter two-door cars and longer full-size pickups of the era. It offered a balance of interior room and bed capacity while remaining maneuverable on streets and in garages of the time. That footprint also informs today’s restoration, storage planning, and compatibility with parts and restorations from other Ford models of the late 1950s.
Summary
In summary, the 1957 Ford Ranchero measures about 206 inches from bumper to bumper, roughly 17 feet 2 inches. That length reflects its hybrid design and helps explain its distinctive place in American automotive history.
